Making a theme need suggestions

[Dr.CustUmz]

UPDATE CAN BE FOUND HERE (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=2538162&postcount=15)


***and yes their is a live preview, http://vb3.dirtrif.com/ although theres not much to see that you cant see in the image so far; but you can watch the development =) ***
So a little over a year ago I made this mockup in PS of what (at the time) i invisioned as my ultimate "i wish" theme:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/external/2015/02/6.png

I got out of designing for a while; was doing construction, but now im back at it and I decided i wanted to make this theme a reality. So ive started to work on it over the past 2 days, and in my opinion it's looking great so far:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/
thats just ONE of the many layout variations there are; and this is all done with NO PLUGINS the only plugin is for the avatars (and boy was that a pain in the ass lol)

I know have the forumbits nearly complete; which in my opinion can be some of the hardest parts to do when creating a UNIQUE theme. Thats why i wanted to knock them out first.

So my problem, when i mocked this theme up I only made a forumhome image. So i want to ask the community what would YOU like to see in this theme, keeping in mind this is supposed to have that metroish feel (hence the name of it since i first released the mockup image)

I have some crazy ideas that i EVENTUALLY will let you guys in on, but for now i want the communities feedback. If its something possible with HTML and CSS i can and will make it happen if the ideas good.

if its something that would require a plugin, i cant promise anything but if the ideas good enough i will try my best.

also, i HAVE NOT decided if this will be a free or payed theme yet or i may even release it to only one user or one buyer, it really all depends what i put into it you know. cause time is money and thats something i dont have since i quit my job to try this designing thing out again.

so let me know your opinions on that part too... should i mass sell for cheap and hope a bunch of people buy it, unique sell and hope i make what its worth, or free release and PREY for donations?

[Max Taxable]

I think you have a good eye. You're taking the old 3.8.8 platform and making it look 21st century. The avatars turning into circles on hover is really sharp.

I don't have any suggestions for you though, except either you might want to lose this huge image that isn't visible on render anyway:

http://cartoondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Batman-HD-Wallpapers-for-Desktop-3.jpg

Or at least use this optimized one of that I'm providing, and host it locally:

http://dallascowboysuniverse.com/batmanwallpaper.jpg


You also have two 404 not found errors on images:

http://dirtrif.com/drc/v1/css/images/gradients/gradient_thead.gif

AND

http://dirtrif.com/drc/v1/css/images/gradients/gradient_tcat.gif


The style looks very promising.

[Dr.CustUmz]

I think you have a good eye. You're taking the old 3.8.8 platform and making it look 21st century. The avatars turning into circles on hover is really sharp.

I don't have any suggestions for you though, except either you might want to lose this huge image that isn't visible on render anyway:

http://cartoondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Batman-HD-Wallpapers-for-Desktop-3.jpg

Or at least use this optimized one of that I'm providing, and host it locally:

http://dallascowboysuniverse.com/batmanwallpaper.jpg


You also have two 404 not found errors on images:

http://dirtrif.com/drc/v1/css/images/gradients/gradient_thead.gif

AND

http://dirtrif.com/drc/v1/css/images/gradients/gradient_tcat.gif


The style looks very promising.

thanks max, that first image is actually a secret lol. when you hit the log out button (login with test password: 123) youll see what it does lol, and yeah i planed on getting different images just used external ones while im working on things, it speeds up production then i can just go back and replace the images when its done =) (like all those icons that are the same in the background for instance)

and the other 2 are cause i took the default stylesheet put it an an external file and edit my css that way, still havent gotten to the goign back and changing default vb css part yet lol. but i have noticed those errors in chrome :D

btw feel free to post, add an avatar, or w/e with that account this isnt a real board its just so i can tinker with stuff (for now atleast)

[Max Taxable]

Well, that's a hell of a big secret you're loading on browsers, 400kb by itself - even if not rendering it is still loading even for the guests.

[Dr.CustUmz]

Well, that's a hell of a big secret you're loading on browsers, 400kb by itself - even if not rendering it is still loading even for the guests.

havent got to the if logged in part of it yet, keep in mind this is still VERY EARLY. not really looking for optimization quite yet. just getting it built.

[darnoldy]

Your FORUMHOME page is fubar... I didn't chase it down, but it looks like you have an unclosed tag somewhere (probably in the forumbit).

Also, there are a number of places where you need to maintain the table structure (primarily because some of the AJAX scripts need it) but forum home is not one of them. I think you'd be better-off getting rid of the main layout table and using a list or divs— coupled with "display:inline-block;" in the css.

--don

[Dr.CustUmz]

fubar.. really? well that's a little extreme. How about instead you tell me what you dont like about it, and what i could do to improve it. but thanks for informing me about the unclosed ill chase that down.

[darnoldy]

It wasn't a comment on the design...There are bits and pieces floating in strange places (see attached).

[Dr.CustUmz]

It wasn't a comment on the design...There are bits and pieces floating in strange places (see attached).

o crap fubar is correct lol. what browser is that? safari? and try in google chrome

[darnoldy]

Firefox... just tried in Safari, looks fine there.

[greigeh]

If i'm being truthful with you, it is extremely cluttered and does not incorporate a straight forward user interface. It is very bulky in a sense, using large fonts and images. For those who use smaller sceen devices (e.g. iPad, Macbook (smaller screen versions)) etc will be bombarded with the large bulky blocks.

I understand the concept of the design, and I like it however you should continue to work on it to develop a more straight forward easy to use design.

The only thing I really like about it is the navigation as it touches about the more modern approach of web design. Nevertheless, I think it is the small things that matter - when hovering on a menu option I think you should atleast make the grey lines also blue when hovering on an item to make it appear more visually appealing.

[Black Snow]

Pretty sure I still have the files from this theme (or the one you were working on 1-2 years ago) on my laptop Ryan. The one's you lost and asked about.

[Dr.CustUmz]

Pretty sure I still have the files from this theme (or the one you were working on 1-2 years ago) on my laptop Ryan. The one's you lost and asked about.

Temp? PM them to me! =) I recovered most of that original theme im basing this design from, but its still not 100% how i had it back then.
http://cl.ly/image/1u3E3K261T2n/Image%202015-02-20%20at%203.34.17%20PM.png

and an update for everyone, ive been working on alot of stuff in pure html mainly stuff that will be for the header/nav and it should be incorperated into the theme within the next few days.

as for the comment about on smaller devices, this theme is designed with mobile users in mind and is to early in development for coming to the conclusions you have, I wont waist our time with spoiling things i have in mind. but just know it looks perfectly fine in mobile devices, and a hell of alot easier to see things without having to zoom than say a default vB
screenshot from my iPhone 5s and looks just as good in my 6+
http://cl.ly/image/3A2G3X2B3L12/IMG_0069.PNG

[webmastersun]

Your themes look good but it's not for business.

Some parts need to re-edited

i.e font size of category is too big while font size for other parts need to be bigger...etc

Also it has more work for you to edit theme become like that. :)

[Dr.CustUmz]

******UPDATE******

things implemented but not complete:

-navbar
-notification bubbles
-color switcher
-search
-login/user panel
-mobile support
-IOS like password input

Guys I can handle the criticism but what I'm getting are reviews.... OF AN UNCOMPLETED THEME,
telling me things you think I dont know still need to be fixed DOES NOT help.

What I'm looking for are IDEAS / SUGGESTIONS / FEEDBACK.

So instead of saying
Some parts need to re-edited

i.e font size of category is too big while font size for other parts need to be bigger...etc

and PMing me dude you have colors that need to be changed, ect..

you could say things like:
It'd be cool if you did the layout like...
maybe you should consider resizing the titles on...
you should try to add....
I really like....

get the point... when I'm ready for a final review YOU WILL KNOW! then you can nit pick the little details.

another note on mobile -
I am trying to make this mobile friendly but, some things are easier than others when it comes to mobile and i may scratch the whole mobile bits and just do a separate mobile only skin, which seems more logical to me (and easier lol)

if i skip over stuff its because I consider it not too important (fine-detailing) I can finish at the end


and lastly some screenies of the updates (or just view it on the site)
http://cl.ly/image/301D413Y2Q3F/Image%202015-02-21%20at%202.07.51%20AM.png
http://cl.ly/image/1O0d302q162a/Image%202015-02-21%20at%202.08.27%20AM.png
http://cl.ly/image/3w2E3u2N3p1R/Image%202015-02-21%20at%202.09.18%20AM.png
and this is the IOS like passwords (shows last charecter for a set amount of time)
http://cl.ly/image/010q0P1y3V02/Image%202015-02-21%20at%202.10.24%20AM.png

[greigeh]

I think something on the forumhome would be cooler like this?
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/external/2015/02/1.jpg

not sure

[Dr.CustUmz]

I think something on the forumhome would be cooler like this?
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/external/2015/02/1.jpg

not sure


oh i like that =) that is sexy. ill see what i can do.